Book Review: Leveling Up

I don’t know if this is the right place to start (it’s later in the book), but the ‘Drop a Ball’ section really caught my attention. When we juggle so many things, you can drop a ball. Mr. Leak suggests intentionally choosing which ball to set down before dropping any! Then the reminder: some balls don’t bounce back. Are some of the things you’re juggling made of glass and could break? Or could they become scuffed or damaged?

The Introduction starts with a question about what Level you’re at in your life, work and personal (could be different). Level 1: Aimless; Level 2: Stuck; Level 3: Coasting; Level 4: Developing; Level 5: Thriving; Level 6: Mastery. He even has a Leveling UP Assessment at ryanleak.com/leveling up; might be worth checking out.

Then each of the 12 chapters has a topic and question followed by a recap and ‘Do This Now’ summary. The first question/chapter asks ‘What is my definition of success?’ Another chapter asks, ‘How Can I Get Better?’ This is an ongoing question at Syscon, across our teams.

All the chapters have great content, but another I’d highlight is The Integrity Question: What is the right thing to do? Sometimes our world suggests it’s more about what we can get away with; Ryan has some great thoughts here.

As always, Ryan has some great stories to share. His enthusiasm and honesty shine throughout the book. Recommended! – CMW